Splatbooks
- Thread starter radferth
- Start date
First obvious point: editting in S&F was embarassing. Don't know if any more needs to be said on that topic, but feel free.
Now for my real point: I have 3 of the class books, S&F, T&B, and DoF. The main reason I purchased them was for the prestige classes, although the spells were also important. I found the prestige classes in T&B quite interesting, even if many of them have absolutely no place in any campaign I would run. On the contrary, I was very disappointed in the DoF and S&F prestige classes. Although both had some good classes, many of them seemed extremely uninspired. IMHO, the problem is that many of the prestige classes were made very generic, just a collection of special abilities with a name tacked on. I'd rather see pretige classes that fill some specific specialized role in their world (e.g. how about a Healer of Pelor, rather than a templar). Even if I don't use that specific deity, the class might be interesting enough to tailor for my own campaign.
Now for my real point: I have 3 of the class books, S&F, T&B, and DoF. The main reason I purchased them was for the prestige classes, although the spells were also important. I found the prestige classes in T&B quite interesting, even if many of them have absolutely no place in any campaign I would run. On the contrary, I was very disappointed in the DoF and S&F prestige classes. Although both had some good classes, many of them seemed extremely uninspired. IMHO, the problem is that many of the prestige classes were made very generic, just a collection of special abilities with a name tacked on. I'd rather see pretige classes that fill some specific specialized role in their world (e.g. how about a Healer of Pelor, rather than a templar). Even if I don't use that specific deity, the class might be interesting enough to tailor for my own campaign.
rackabello
First Post
i have T&B and S&F, and will eventually get the others.
Sword & Fist is alright, with some interesting feats and interesting PrClasses (i'm partial to the Devoted Defender, Duellist and the Clint Eastwood/spaghetti western PrC -- Ghostwalker?), though some of the weapons were a bit silly (gotta love the orc shotput though). Its poor editing must be embarassing to WotC, but never bothered me much.
Tome & Blood has more going for it, in my opinion. Excellent new feats and some useful spells, metamagic items. I think the PrClasses are great, with only one or two duds. The Blood Magus is truly inventive (and rather demented) and even an oddity like the Candle Caster is rooted in a fresh concept. Would have liked to see a bit more attention paid to Sorcerers, as many of the classes are available to them only at high levels.
I'm only marginally interested in the organizations and sample stongholds, keeps and such presented in the books. I think it might have been cool for each of the splatbooks to devote space to suggestions for multiclassing options for their featured classes -- something like the articles that have appeared in Dragon from time to time.
Finally, I have to say that I'd have all of the splatbooks already if they were cheaper. At $20 a throw they keep getting shunted to the bottom of my list.
Slight tangent: who coined the phrase splatbook, anyhow? is it meant to be pejorative?
edited to correct poor editing of my own
Sword & Fist is alright, with some interesting feats and interesting PrClasses (i'm partial to the Devoted Defender, Duellist and the Clint Eastwood/spaghetti western PrC -- Ghostwalker?), though some of the weapons were a bit silly (gotta love the orc shotput though). Its poor editing must be embarassing to WotC, but never bothered me much.
Tome & Blood has more going for it, in my opinion. Excellent new feats and some useful spells, metamagic items. I think the PrClasses are great, with only one or two duds. The Blood Magus is truly inventive (and rather demented) and even an oddity like the Candle Caster is rooted in a fresh concept. Would have liked to see a bit more attention paid to Sorcerers, as many of the classes are available to them only at high levels.
I'm only marginally interested in the organizations and sample stongholds, keeps and such presented in the books. I think it might have been cool for each of the splatbooks to devote space to suggestions for multiclassing options for their featured classes -- something like the articles that have appeared in Dragon from time to time.
Finally, I have to say that I'd have all of the splatbooks already if they were cheaper. At $20 a throw they keep getting shunted to the bottom of my list.
Slight tangent: who coined the phrase splatbook, anyhow? is it meant to be pejorative?
edited to correct poor editing of my own
Last edited:
Tharkun
First Post
Well, I own the first printing of S&F. As for Prestige classes I will maybe, MAYBE play a very select few but I just don't see why I should give up 10 levels of being a Monk/Fighter/Wizard or whatever*.
* Granted if it fits your backround story that's 100% A-OK. Or if you're going for a cool/neat concept or want to try something different...hey that doesn't sound half bad
* Granted if it fits your backround story that's 100% A-OK. Or if you're going for a cool/neat concept or want to try something different...hey that doesn't sound half bad
SeRiAlExPeRiMeNtS
Explorer
Well, let´s see:
Sword and fist: errated it is ok, not very good but ok. 3/5 (errated)
Defenders of faith: The worst prc (the templar), some good feats and ok prcs. ok too. 2/5
Tome and Blood: Very cool feats, very cool Prcs and very cool spells. very good. 4/5
Song and silence: some good feats, boring prcs... cool trap rules. 2/5
Masters of the wield: Cool feats, cool prcs and cool spells. cool book. 4/5
I think they could be lot better...
so,
Sword and fist: errated it is ok, not very good but ok. 3/5 (errated)
Defenders of faith: The worst prc (the templar), some good feats and ok prcs. ok too. 2/5
Tome and Blood: Very cool feats, very cool Prcs and very cool spells. very good. 4/5
Song and silence: some good feats, boring prcs... cool trap rules. 2/5
Masters of the wield: Cool feats, cool prcs and cool spells. cool book. 4/5
I think they could be lot better...
so,
National Acrobat
First Post
I have TaB, SaF and DoF and my favorite by far is DoF. I really like the new feats that enhance the abilities of clerics and paladins to use their holy power, both to protect party members and to increase their abilities to harm evil. I thought that was the best one of the splatbooks, IMHO. Just my 2 cents.
Psion
Adventurer
T&B and MotW are the best IMO. Lots of good material, few problems. I chucked the Mindbender, though...
S&F has a few problems, but if you have the cahunas to be discerning and use what is appropriate for your game, it's a great book. But then, I find this true of many third party products as well.
DotF had too narrow of a focus, and was severely hampered by the greyhawk default assumption. Still a few useful bits though.
S&S was the worst, IMO. Some feats and the sample traps are about the only thing I get use of out of this book. The prestige classes and supporting material was, for the lack of a better word, boooring. The bard received just about nothing from this book. Not to mention Roach's art is really bad.
S&F has a few problems, but if you have the cahunas to be discerning and use what is appropriate for your game, it's a great book. But then, I find this true of many third party products as well.
DotF had too narrow of a focus, and was severely hampered by the greyhawk default assumption. Still a few useful bits though.
S&S was the worst, IMO. Some feats and the sample traps are about the only thing I get use of out of this book. The prestige classes and supporting material was, for the lack of a better word, boooring. The bard received just about nothing from this book. Not to mention Roach's art is really bad.
Oh, come on, the Thief-Acrobat rocks
I certainly agree that you have to choose what you get out of each splatbook to really appreciate them.
But the new Divine feats are definitely the best thing of DotF (great idea, that one), and the Mindbender and Candle Caster the worst to make it into T&B.
I certainly agree that you have to choose what you get out of each splatbook to really appreciate them.
But the new Divine feats are definitely the best thing of DotF (great idea, that one), and the Mindbender and Candle Caster the worst to make it into T&B.
jgbrowning
Hero
i am ignorant
what is a splatbook?
yeh, i know, yah get old the memor.... what...? what was i talking about sonny?
joe b.
what is a splatbook?
yeh, i know, yah get old the memor.... what...? what was i talking about sonny?
joe b.
ColonelHardisson
What? Me Worry?
Re: i am ignorant
The class books WotC put out - Sword and Fist, Tome and Blood, etc.
jgbrowning said:
The class books WotC put out - Sword and Fist, Tome and Blood, etc.
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